This Was Television On August 8

1999: “Movie sign!” for the last time

Mystery Science Theater 3000, one of the most warmly-regarded shows of all-time (including by those of us at This Was Television), completed a run of more than 10 seasons. The story was simple: a man and his robot companions, trapped on a satellite by mad scientists, are doomed to watch—and mock—the worst movies ever made. From Minnesota public access to Comedy Central to Sci-Fi Channel, MST3K became one of the signature cult programs of the 1990s thanks to loyal fans who kept circulating the tapes.